No 5% Fuel Surcharge in January 2026 – Presidential Tax Reform Chair Sets Record Straight

The Chairman of the Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms, Taiwo Oyedele, has debunked widespread claims that a five percent fuel surcharge will begin on January 1, 2026.

Speaking on Channels Television’s The Morning Brief, Oyedele clarified that the surcharge cannot take effect until an official commencement order is gazetted by the Minister of Finance.

“There is nothing in the law that says this tax will start on January 1, 2026. People need to get that right,” he emphasized.

Background of the Controversy

The debate intensified after reports suggested Nigerians would face additional fuel costs next year. The Trade Union Congress (TUC) even threatened nationwide strikes if the surcharge was not withdrawn.

But Oyedele argued that the uproar is misplaced, stressing that the surcharge was first introduced in 2007 under a previous administration—not by President Bola Tinubu’s government.

“The TUC should have protested back in 2007, not now. The surcharge hasn’t been imposed, and there is no regulation enforcing a January 2026 start date,” he said.

Road Maintenance & Economic Burden

According to Oyedele, Nigeria’s real economic challenge lies in dilapidated road infrastructure and illegal levies imposed on transporters—not the surcharge itself.

Nigeria has nearly 200,000 km of roads, but only 60,000 km are paved. He explained that the surcharge, when eventually implemented, is designed to generate funds for road repairs and maintenance, which will reduce logistics costs and improve safety.

Oyedele appealed for patience, assuring citizens that the Tinubu administration’s fiscal reforms will gradually improve the economy.

Taiwo Oyedele
Chairman, Presidential Committee on Fiscal Policy and Tax Reforms

Key Takeaways

• No official start date for the 5% fuel surcharge.

• Tax cannot take effect until gazetted by the Minister of Finance.

• The surcharge was introduced in 2007, not by Tinubu’s government.

• Poor road networks and illegal levies remain Nigeria’s real transport cost drivers.

• The surcharge is meant to fund road maintenance in the long run.

Written by Boom RadioNG